Read Positive User Reviews for Bad Words

8

DCEdmondsNov 13, 2014

"Bad Words" 10 Scale Rating: 7.5 (Very Good) ...

The Good: Jason Bateman is fantastic as Guy Trilby, an angry and amoral 40 year old man who decides to win the national spelling bee to stick it to his absent father. Bateman's wit and"Bad Words" 10 Scale Rating: 7.5 (Very Good) ...

The Good: Jason Bateman is fantastic as Guy Trilby, an angry and amoral 40 year old man who decides to win the national spelling bee to stick it to his absent father. Bateman's wit and timing was impeccable and was actually laugh out loud funny at times. Usually playing the straight man or "good guy", it was refreshing to see him play a crass a-hole. The setup is good and is a very amusing idea. The supporting cast was excellent and the film is one of the better dark comedies of the last couple of years. Bateman also directed the film and shows a lot of skill in doing so.

The Bad: At times Trilby is a little TOO crass and for a brief moments becomes difficult to root for. Films like this work when there is a fine line between being a rude jerk and having something more underneath. This film, for the most part, succeeded but came dangerously close to crossing that line.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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7

Trev29Aug 12, 2014

Bad Words goes for outrageous comedy with some real dramatic moments, and it works. It is short and effective. While Bateman did fine with his directorial debut, the movie's strength is in the screenplay.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

BrianMcCriticJul 9, 2014

While struggling to make an all round great movie, Bad Words has some extremely funny moments. The film does have a standard type ending, though Bateman is at his best. B+

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

LamontRaymondMar 16, 2014

Bad words is a really fun little movie, one that I laughed very hard in. Bateman is absolutely hilarious with his deadpan insults, and I enjoyed his interaction with a little Indian kid. As always Kathryn Hahn is awesome, but I wish herBad words is a really fun little movie, one that I laughed very hard in. Bateman is absolutely hilarious with his deadpan insults, and I enjoyed his interaction with a little Indian kid. As always Kathryn Hahn is awesome, but I wish her character and her motivation were flushed out a bit more. Her sex scene is by far the best in the movie. For an uproarious movie of this kind, it seemed that the basic plot underpinnings, the reason he went through with this spelling bee, is just a little bit strained and depressing and I think the writers probably could've been a better job in providing him with motivation.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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9

Compi24Apr 6, 2014

Unfathomably well-trained direction and unceremoniously entertaining all throughout, Jason Bateman's directorial debut "Bad Words" is an ingenious, hilarious, and even occasionally heartwarming masterwork.

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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8

PimpinpakmanMar 28, 2014

This movie will easily offend anyone and everyone so dont go watch it if you are offended by racist and misogynistic jokes because they will be there in great numbers. But if you can stomach the jokes and take it as comedy then you will haveThis movie will easily offend anyone and everyone so dont go watch it if you are offended by racist and misogynistic jokes because they will be there in great numbers. But if you can stomach the jokes and take it as comedy then you will have yourself a good time. We laughed a lot in the movie and most of the jokes are actually targeting south asian people (like me lol) but like i said, if you take it as a comedy and not personally then you will have yourself a good time. If not, then avoid it.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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7

AllenReviewsMar 28, 2014

Jason Bateman's directorial debut, Is a fun, Rude, Comedic adventure that is sure to entertaine fans of the genera, All though I did find that this movie was just too fast paced.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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7

NightReviewsMar 28, 2014

It’s very rare that I find myself lost in narrative, characters, and comedy, that I forget altogether that I am watching a movie intent on criticizing it. Jason Bateman’s (Horrible Bosses, Up In the Air) directorial debut Bad Words did justIt’s very rare that I find myself lost in narrative, characters, and comedy, that I forget altogether that I am watching a movie intent on criticizing it. Jason Bateman’s (Horrible Bosses, Up In the Air) directorial debut Bad Words did just that. It allowed me to lose myself in laughter and the evermore outrageous moments, so much so that I almost forgot I had to review the film.

Bad Words is a short, sweet, and unexpectedly dark comedy with instances of pure vulgarity and vileness that is at the same time, heartwarming–yes, you read that right.

For one, Bad Words was the first ever straight-up comedy I have ever experienced at TIFF. Of course, so many movies have heavy comedic instances, but I can assure you, Bad Words will have you laughing so hard, that at times, you’ll find it hard to hear the next bit of dialogue (I’m warning you from experience).

The film opens with unexplained genius Guy Trilby (Jason Bateman) entering himself in a Regional Spelling Bee, with a brief flashback explaining how he has been able to register legally. From the moment the movie starts, Bateman has the audience in tears and on the floor laughing as he progresses to the National Spelling Bee, in hot pursuit of all the angry parents and students who he beat at the regionals. Once Bateman makes it to the super bowl of spelling bees, The Golden Quill, along with his travelling documenting reporter Kathryn Hahn (We’re The Millers), hilarity and vulgarity ensue.

The mystery throughout the film centres on uncovering the reason for Trilby’s anger with the world, constant bitterness and his obsession with winning the bee. The blend of Bateman’s dark direction and stylistic choices, along with screenwriter Andrew Dodge‘s fiercely morbid dialogue allow for the experience to be natural and so unexpected.

I have no idea if either Bateman or Dodge were inspired at all by Bobcat Goldthwait (World’s Greatest Dad, God Bless America) and his darkly satirical body of work, but if I was told that this film is indeed another addition to that large list of his black comedy of work, I would not doubt it.

Bad Words is a film that constantly pushes the evelope. Each character Trilby interacts with, whether it be for an extended period of time, or just shortly, Bateman nails each and every scene with a natural sense of arrogance. Trilby’s scenes with “slumdog” (Rohan Chand), a lonely prostitute on the street, or a victimized man going into a bathroom stall, are some of the best in the film. Chand, who was seen earlier this year in the taught war drama Lone Survivor, shares some of the best scenes with Bateman and the two make for an unlikely, yet completely adoring dynamic duo. Watch out for this young and truly talented up-and-comer to make a name for himself in whatever genre he sees fit.

Bateman undoubtedly has a keen eye for comedy. Rude, crude, and sometimes completely uncalled for, Bad Words was a pleasant change of pace during TIFF and was surely one of the most memorable comedies of the year.

Expect Bad Words to knock your socks off, because the only thing bad about it, is how much you will find yourself laughing at the most inappropriate things, da*#it!… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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9

TheQuietGamerAug 15, 2014

Jason Bateman's character is a rude and mean person who's mad at the world and the humor does a great job of capturing this. It's honestly a laugh riot and the motivation of the goofy plot idea ends up turning into some emotional stuff.Jason Bateman's character is a rude and mean person who's mad at the world and the humor does a great job of capturing this. It's honestly a laugh riot and the motivation of the goofy plot idea ends up turning into some emotional stuff. Bateman does a great job as the director and as the main character. His chemistry with the almost too young for this type of movie Rohan Chand is excellent and adds a little more emotion and humor to the mix. Perhaps the conclusion of the spelling bee is a little obvious and predictable, but the rest of the movie feels fresh and most importantly hilarious. For that I give it a 9.8/10.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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8

DQ_SlotkinsAug 16, 2014

Good comedies are rare these days. Really, you can count the good ones from the last several years on your fingers with room to spare. This is good mainly because it avoids the pitfall of most of the lousy comedies out there today — itGood comedies are rare these days. Really, you can count the good ones from the last several years on your fingers with room to spare. This is good mainly because it avoids the pitfall of most of the lousy comedies out there today — it refuses to go down the dreaded easy path of "goofy."
Bad Words follows the lead of another under appreciated film, Young Adult (2011) with Charlize Theron. Both are centered on deeply damaged characters who quit the life that is no longer offering them anything and revert to a period that they (wrongly) assume to be a safe haven. In Young Adult Charlize Theron returns to the small town where she once was Queen of it all. Bateman's character in Bad Words steps back into the shoes of his 8th grade self that he's now much more prepared to handle.… Expand